Candidate Profile: Cast as a pragmatist, Godina vows to represent all of Victorville, including downtown

Shea Johnson Staff Writer @DP_Shea

Tuesday

Aug 28, 2018 at 3:04 PMAug 28, 2018 at 3:05 PM

VICTORVILLE — Often the bureaucratic and political inner workings of government can slow the pace of progress. For Valentin Godina, a retired diesel mechanic, it doesn't have to be such a factor.

Godina, 54, a candidate for Victorville City Council, explains it this way: If one councilor has laid out a plan to install more street lights in the city, and another seeks more police officers, there should be an easy avenue to compromise. More lights, less officers needed. Existing officers can then patrol areas that aren't as well-lit.

"Just simple stuff like that," Godina said. "I don't believe it's as complicated as it seems. I think with a simple view and a simple solution, we can move forward."

Living on the edge of downtown for nearly 30 years, Godina views himself as an effective communicator — a skill sharpened by volunteer work as director of an after-school mariachi music program — and it is that ability that he says is sorely missing from the current makeup of elected officials.

"I truly believe that every council member up there wants the best for our city," he said. "Right now, it just so happens that we haven't found a common path to get to it. But I'm sure with some encouragement and some new perspective, we can find that common ground so that we can go forward and move our city in the right direction."

Godina is admittedly green to politics, having considered runs in 2012 and 2016, but only this year deciding that the time was right, galvanized by what he sees as the lack of representation for downtown residents on the dais.

Yet he is also clear to assuage any concerns that his candidacy is restricted to an Old Town-first agenda, even as he believes his familiarity with the pulse of the neighborhood — he is active with the Revive Our Old Town advocacy group — would serve it well.

"I don't want to be an island on the council if I get elected," he said. "I want to be a part of the team, because I know that there's other parts of the town that other council members represent and they know those needs. And I would like to work to get the needs addressed for everybody — not just Old Town, because all of Victorville has needs."

His two main priorities are public safety and activities for youth. He also stressed he had no plans to enter City Hall seeking a major overhaul. On the city's financial situation: "I'm not there to reinvent the budget."

Instead, he conveyed a pragmatic attitude in identifying what is working and utilizing that strategy where it is not.

Godina said the city should play a significant role in anything occurring within city limits, including the homelessness epidemic on Victorville streets, which he reluctantly acknowledged would never completely be solved. But the city must work with partners to identify the root cause per individual and connect those seeking help to resources, he said.

"I would like to bring in some fresh views, some fresh conversation," he said, "to build a communication bridge for the benefit of all of Victorville."

The general election is Nov. 6. Visit www.vvdailypress.com to see videos of each candidate explaining why they’re running for office and what key issues they’re focused on.

Shea Johnson can be reached at 760-955-5368 or SJohnson@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DP_Shea.

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